Letter from a family in Mesa, Arizona

Elder Rowe and Elder Mace Baptism January 24, 2009 Mesa, Arizona

Hi there!

My name is Jolene Griffin, and your boys have been living in our home. They are such sweet young men and you can feel the Spirit when they are around....

I have had Elder Mace for 1 transfer and now for a second transfer as he is to become the trainer for another new missionary. He is just as wonderful to have here, and is very head strong for the work they have to do. I know he is quite computer smart (unlike myself), when I get frustrated, he is always trying to give me suggestions about what could possibly be wrong or how I might be able to fix my problem some other way, (and please don't get worried, he/they don't use my computer, becausee they are not allowed to use member's PC's). He is very quiet and reserved until you get to know him, then he seems to let his guard down just a little so you get to know him better. We absolutely LOVE having the Elder's live with us!! They do offer services when I need help with the groceries, putting up a table, unloading the dishwasher (Elder Rowe likes to unload, while Elder Mace says he likes to load). My son just got married Dec 19, and I was a little crazed, but they were very calming and always willing to help where/when ever I needed them. I didn't want them to miss any of the missionary work they had, so I didn't bother them, but it was nice to know they were there if I should've needed them. They are very spiritual, and are excellent missionaries. They spoke in church yesterday, and the Spirit was so strong, it was wonderful. You have raised good righteous young men, who honor their priesthood. Thank you for sharing them with the people in Mesa, and for sharing them with our family. They have a special place in our hearts, and I think of them as my boys too, (I have 3 daughters and 1 son, 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter). I come from a family of 11 children (7 brothers and 3 sisters), my son used to say he was cheated because we didn't have another son, so this is how he gets more brothers (besides his 3 brother-in-laws). Anyway, they wanted to share thes baptism photos with you, so I said sure, let's do it!

Love you, Jolene Griffin

Letter to the Young Men of the South Shore Ward

*** This is a letter Jason (Elder Mace) wrote to the Young Men in our ward back home. I thought it was something that everyone would enjoy reading, so he told me I could post it...

To the Young Men,
I just wanted to write you all to let you know how things are going here in Mesa, Arizona. The cardinalls are going to the Super Bowl, so everyone is happy about that here. But it's January and already warming up. People here are saying it's going to be a hot summer. . . . Naturally, I'm excited about that. . . . The record high, I hear, was 122 degrees. Buisnesses were shut down as the AC couldn't keep up.
But life been good so far. I've been working hard and seeing some success come from it. I'm so glad that I've been given this opportunity to serve as a missionary. I don't imagine that there's anything quite like it. It is without a doubt the hardest thing I've ever done, and the best.
I don't think anyone ever sat me down and told me how hard it would be. I've been tired every day since I first went into the MTC. I've been cursed at, had doors slammed in my face, and had even the most solid investigaters tell me and my companion to never come back. (Yeah, that last one crushes you every time.)
But, now that I think about it, I don't think anyone ever sat me down and told me how amazing a mission is, either. Even through all that difficulty, there is real, lasting joy that comes from serving. There is no joy like watching someone change their life and find their real relationship with God, who is their loving Heavenly Father. We aren't the only elect ones in the world. There are many people who "are only kept from the knowledge because they know not where to find it" as it says in the D&C.
For example, my first companion and I were out tracting and we found a young, single mother named Ceanna. We found out later that she had been praying only ten minutes or so before for direction. Then we showed up. We told her about eternal families, and she was really excited about that. She came to church two sundays later and loved it. As she learned more she started to share her knowledge with other people, invited them to talk to missionaries and learn more. Then she herself was baptised, along with her oldest son. I have no doubt that she is one of the elect, chosen to be here at this point in time. And she never would have been brought to knowledge of the gospel without missionaries to teach her.
There's nothing like watching people receive forgiveness from their sins as they come to know Jesus Christ and the power of His atonement. I can't describe the joy that comes when you see one of your investigaters get baptised. It's the best feeling in the world.
--Elder Jason Mace